“I’ll Miss You”: Petra Kvitova Bids Emotional Goodbye to Wimbledon in Final Appearance
Wimbledon 2025 witnessed a poignant moment as two-time champion Petra Kvitova made her final appearance at the All England Club, bowing out in the first round to No. 10 seed Emma Navarro, 6-3, 6-1. The 35-year-old Czech, who famously lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2011 and 2014, confirmed this would be her last time competing at her beloved Grand Slam, as she prepares to retire after the U.S. Open later this year.
“This place holds the best memories I could wish for,” said an emotional Kvitova during a special on-court interview—typically reserved for winners. “I never dreamed of winning Wimbledon, and I won it twice. This is something very special. I will miss Wimbledon for sure. I will miss tennis. I will miss you, fans.”
Kvitova, who received a wild card into this year’s tournament after returning from maternity leave, was overcome with gratitude as she looked back on her remarkable career at SW19. In 2011, she stunned the tennis world by defeating Maria Sharapova in straight sets in the final. Three years later, she overwhelmed Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard with a flawless 6-3, 6-0 win to claim her second title on Centre Court.
Despite her early exit to the 24-year-old American Emma Navarro, the match became a heartfelt farewell rather than a loss. “She’s an incredible player and an inspiration,” said Navarro. “She won this tournament twice and then came back after having a kid—that’s powerful.”
Kvitova’s announcement brings an end to an era. She made it clear that the 2025 U.S. Open will be her final tournament: “I’m sure,” she said, when asked if this was truly goodbye. “It’s not just about the physical toll anymore—my motivation is different than it was before.”
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